Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-02-11

The same fAte befeIl Martin Hals,
and, Is he walked gloomily homeward,
he thought Of the ten pounds lying In
the secret placs where no had hidden
It, Never once again had he looked
at It, and not . day had passed that he|
had mot shrunk from the thought Of III
and from the sense Of his own guilt;
and yet, by . strange inconsistency, he
could not bring himself to part with
the money. A haunting dread oil
poverty and want tempted him TO keep
1t, and people who noticed that he was
changed, that he had become nervous
and morose, attributed 1t to his pow
erty.
George Burton wondered that his
old neighbor Stunned him, and Mar
tins vile grew anxious aud harrassed
| In witnessing her husbands changed
ltemper-he who had hitherto been
always kind and considerable to her
and the children.
One evening Martin took the purse
from its hiding place and opened 1t.
There were q few pieces of small
change, and these he slipped in his vest
pocket and started down the street.
| He was not accustomed to drinking
anything stronger than beer. but now
he thought, to drown his bad feelings,
he would take q glass of spirits.
Il Walking briskly down the streA,
zone Of the small coins, clipping from
This vest pocket, fell upoa the pave
, lment. He did not notice 1t, but little
: boy behind him did. The coin rolled
Into the gutter, and 1t was q momen,
or two before the child could find 1t
, Then he ran after the man who hat
dropped it, and, after good chase
A came up with him as he was about en-
[ tering public-h house.
8 ooh, Mr.. Hale, 10 il your" he ex
claimed breathlessly. ''I've chaset
Y you ever 30 long"
al Martin looked down and saw a pal
g little face, and form thinly clad 10
,such cold evening. A pang she
g through him. II was Eddie, Georg
/. Burton's little son.
III "What do you want?" he sale
10 gruffly.
e "The-the money!" he gasped.
n Martin turned white.
"What money!"
l. The boy held up the coin.
.e 81 saw 1t fall. 1t must have slippe
lie out of your torn pocket. like IN
st fathers did,"
,tt "Why didn't you keep It. sonny9
d asked a man who stood by.
fl because 1t wasn't mine" answere
le Eddie, In firm tone. "'Twould HAY
l. been stealing"
Martin took the piece mechanically
e. and shrank away from the boys gaz'
ps This child had honestly returned
/" him the money which he, Mart
err Hale, had stolen from the boys fathe
he Martin walked on with downcast ey
and pale, compressed lips, until
in reached his own door. Over the Wa
k, q dim light burned in George Burton
nd window, and, crossing the street,
of knocked on the door and called
no George. Burton came out, looking
little surprised.
.p George, you lost purse and t.
a pounds some time ago." said Marti
ly abruptly.
"Yes."
al "Here it is. l am the meanest a
in, most despicable wretch alive; but L
q conscience still, thank Heavenl'
d. Then he told how he had got pr
lat session Of the money, how he h
he kept it, and how 1t had been throu
to the honesty of Burton's little son IL
l he had come to restore 1t.
for "You'll never speak to me again
h suppose" he added huskily, "and
own / don't deserve that you shou
he But the burden is off my soul now. al
with Gods help, will be an hon
he man hereafter"
ere Burton held out his hand.